Abu Muhammad Abdur-Ra’uf Shakir, was born and raised in New York City where he embraced the religion of Islam in the year 1395 AH (1975 CE). He was fortunate to have participated in a special Da’wah Training Program at Umm al-Qura University in Makkah, along with twenty other American Imams and Islamic Workers, during the Autumn of 1399 AH (1979 CE).

After returning he was active in the Muslim community of New York for many years, and was one of the founders of Masjid at-Taqwa in Brooklyn, NY. He was active in the masjid’s da’wah programs and educational activities, as well as handling many administrative duties in the community.

Over the years, he has traveled to, and lived in, many Muslim countries including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Sudan, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. He spent six years in the city of al-Madeenah, Saudi Arabia, where he completed his Arabic Studies in the year 1411 AH (1991 CE).

Afterwards, he obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of Hadeeth and Islamic Studies, at the Islamic University of al-Madeenah in the year 1415 AH (1995 CE). During that time he studied under a number of the scholars of al-Madeenah including the Noble Shaykh ‘Abdul-Muhsin al-‘Abbaad (Hafizahu-llah) with whom he studied Tawheed al-Asmaa’ was-Sifaat for one year.

He has participated in the translation [from Arabic to English] and editing of a number of valuable essays and Fataawaa of contemporary Muslim scholars – including the three Imaams of the People of Sunnah of this era, Shaykh Abdul-‘Azeez Ibn Baaz (Rahimahu-llah), Shaykh Muhammad Naasiruddeen Al-Albaanee (Rahimahu-llah) and Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaimeen (Rahimahu-llah).

He has a number of unpublished works, including an explanation of Nawaaqid al-Islam [The Things Which Nullify Someone’s Islam] by al-Imaam Muhammad Ibn Abdul-Wahhab (Rahimahu-llah). [May Allah facilitate its being published soon]. Additionally, he has a major research published under the title: “The Islamic Ruling Concerning Tasweer”.

He has worked in the field of da’wah and teaching new Muslims, for the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, State of Qatar, for many years. And is now engaged in the same work with the Shaykh Eid Bin Muhammad al-Thani Charity Association.